For Dima and Mandy: take the middle path please

Submitted by anonymous (Sweden), Feb 23, 2006 at 10:51

Dear Dima,

I am a Muslim woman myself, and I come from a society that does not impose any veil on us. Less than 1% of our women use veil, but that does not make us less Muslim than you are. Veils and clothes are influenced by weather and culture, and religion has little to do with it. Judaism, Christiandom and Islam- all these religions were born in the middle east, that could be the reason behind the small caps/ head scurf/ veils etc. It is understandble why people the deserts (both men an women) cover their head and body.

Correct me if I am wrong- as far as I know, veil was imposed on Muslim women not during the Prophet's time- but during the rein of Caliph Umar. Does the holy Quran spell out that women have to cover head and all their body? (I am asking this because I don't know). I know that we have to put on decent dress and we can't show our body, but does that mean that we have to cover our hair and all of our body except face? Please don't be offended, let me know the correct information.

I have few more observations. I believe that in Islam men and women hold equal positions. We have to cover our body thats fine, but why can't women have voting rights? Why can't women drive cars? These things are not in Islam. I have a question for you, how can some dictators make some laws in the name of our religion? The persons who are ruling your country are NOT the sole agent of Islam. The women in Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and all the central asian muslim states have voting rights. They are also free to choose whether or not they would cover their head. If they wish, they will cover, if they don't, the law will not force them to do so. Tell me my friend, does that make us less Muslim than you are?

Another thing, polygamy is allowed in many major religions. Look at the Mormons- they are having two - three wives, even in America! The Hindu religion also allowes wives. The main avatar of their Hindu God (Krishna) had more than 2 thousand wives! But you see, the Indians changed their rules- now the Hindus cannot have more than one wife. You see, all the religions were born in thousands of years ago. What was correct at that time, may not be acceptable today. That is why all modern nations changed their rules. Religion is a personal thing- that is between you and your Creator- why do we have to bring it at the state-level? Poligamy, my friend, is not something to be proud of, so let us not support this system- be it in any religion!
If we, Muslims, do not reform our own system, who will? Surely, we do not want any western force to come and impose their values on us?

And Mandy, we have seen the ugly face of your society as well! Basically there's no freedom in 'absolute freedom' in a society. Some are chained in veils- some are chained in materialism, pornghaphy, free sex, homosexuality, drugs. The movie 'American Beauty' beautifully depicts the hollowness of your society. One third of the children of some societies are born outside marriage, one-tenth of the married couple's children are not the children of their supposed fathers, fifty per cent of children see their parents getting divorced by the time they finish school, one fourth of population are suffering from some sort of mental problems, old people end up at the old homes. Money, military power, and freedom cannot buy happiness. The School of Economics recently had an interesting survey about happiness and they found out that the people of the western societies are the most unhappy people in the world. On the other hand, a small and poor country (which is, coincidentally a moderate Muslim country as well) is the happiest nation.

My dear Mandy, family is the smallest unit of a society, and thus, a state. When families are broken, no military power or oil or wealth or science and tecnology can bring happiness in a society.

I did not send this comments to hurt any group. Just think deeply what path we should take. Religious extremism and extreme freedom, both are wrong. So Mandy and Dima, please don't advocate any extreme view and think of the path that lies in between.

Thank you.

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